Posted on 11/09/2005 7:51:35 PM PST by SJackson
ACTIVISM: Peter Daniel Young used his court appearance to urge others to attack mink farms.
BY TODD RICHMOND
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADISON - An animal-rights activist who freed thousands of mink from Midwestern fur farms and then dodged federal authorities for years was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday after urging his supporters in the courtroom to raid more farms.
Peter Daniel Young, 28, of Mercer Island, Wash., became an idol to fellow activists during his seven years on the run from the FBI. Dozens of supporters demonstrated on the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse Tuesday, holding signs that read "Free Peter" and "Fur - No Skin Off Your Back."
They jammed U.S. District Judge Stephen Crocker's courtroom, sitting on each other's laps after the spectator benches filled. They applauded and cheered when U.S. marshals led Young into the room. Young nodded and smiled at them.
"I don't think he's wrong at all," said Anna Marie Loeffler, 22, of Madison. "I completely support what he did."
Young read a statement to the court, calling his mink farm raids an "act of conscience." He told fur farmers in the audience "it was an absolute pleasure to raid your farms" and urged everyone in the courtroom to attack more farms.
His fans erupted in applause until Crocker threatened to kick out the next person who clapped.
The judge called Young an arrogant vigilante and warned him against repeating his crimes.
"He clearly relishes his role as a martyr for his cause," Crocker said. "Just sit on your bully pulpit and tell other people what to do because the consequences for you will be dire (the next time)."
Young had pleaded guilty in September to two counts of animal enterprise terrorism in a deal with prosecutors.
The judge sentenced him to the two-year prison term and $254,840 in restitution to the mink farmers. He also sentenced him to one year of supervised release and360 hours of community service that must be spent helping humans, not other species, as Crocker put it.
Young and accomplice Justin Samuel were originally indicted in Madison in 1998 on four extortion charges and two animal enterprise counts. Federal prosecutors said they broke onto mink farms in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa in 1997, cut fences and freed the animals from their cages.
Young and Samuel disappeared after the indictment came down.
Samuel was captured in Belgium in 1999. He struck a deal with prosecutors and served two years in prison. Young remained at large until March, when police arrested him for trying to shoplift CDs from a Starbucks in San Jose, Calif.
Peter Daniel Young used his court appearance to urge others to attack mink farms.
If I was Judge Crocker, that would have earned an extra year or two.
These people are scum and should be treated as such.
Ignorant punks with heads full of mush.
Ah yes. Superior morals govern them. They are head and shoulders above the rest of us, you know.
"How hard a life can they (minks) be leading--they're wearin' ****in' mink!
Too bad the minks didn't turn on him like those little dinosaurs from Jurassic Park II.
He may change his mind after getting acquainted with his cell mate.
So, he freed minks just to become prison beaver?
We have an alligator farm near where I live. They should come and raid that.
Young remained at large until March, when police arrested him for trying to shoplift CDs from a Starbucks in San Jose, Calif.
Quarter million from a guy stealing CDs? Is he stealing CDs for a cause? Increase his sentence if another mink farm is raided!
"....and urged everyone in the courtroom to attack more farms."
And for that, he should get more time.
Any 'farm raiders' who try that here will get a bullet. Or a 12 gauge Brenneke slug.
Well, they ended up adding a second layer of pavement on the roads as they were slowly converted to roadkill. Then they killed livestock. Then they starved to death because they weren't used to fending for themselves.
It wouldn't surprise me if they turned upon one another, either, I guess.
Anna, I completely support him driving into the mink farms during business hours with a truck load of money collected from ignorant twits like you, and BUYING all their mink.
He could then distribute them to each of you to take care of them...and you can then learn first hand all their endearing, cuddly little habits.
But THAT wouldn't be any fun, would it? Well, it would be to fly on the wall.
A project for a Howie Mandel/Hidden Howie segment?
Not just scum, also terrorists.
They need to be referred to as such.
Firebombing research centers, terrorising animal researchers and their families. These mentioned here are smalltime, but in training for bigger things.
Does anyone have a photo of this clown/criminal?
People who do this shouldn't be sent to prison.
They should be ordered to a padded cell in a criminal insane asylum for life.
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